Electric lighter accessory for wall installation



Jan. 15, 1963 F. s. VIRGA ETAL ELECTRIC LIGHTER ACCESSORY FOR WALL INSTALLATION Filed Aug. 7, 1961 us O RRR 5 W W m a w $1 5 RA F6 1 2 3 M 0 y. 8 AX 5 4 5 A, m A W m H V m a x F 2 7 9 H G m m m. V m l o 5 m C! 5 w l a W l m%/ w 2 F 2 N 0 6 1 a lk'l'! ORNEY 3,673,341 ELECTRIC LEGHTER ACQESSORY FUR WALL INSTALLATION Frank S. Virga and Margaret J. Virga, both of 1113 Grevelia Stu, La Canada, Calif. Filed Aug. 7, 1961, Ser. No. 129,710

Claims. (U. 213-32) The present invention relates to improvements in electric lighters for cigarettes and the like and more particularly to a unitary self-contained accessory especially designed and adapted to be installed within wall-mounted conventional electrical outlet boxes.

Semi-automatic electric lighters have long been extremely popular among motorists and are commonly installed as factory equipment on the dashboards of trucks and passenger cars. By the present invention, the great convenience and popularity of electrical lighters can now be extended to the home and the ofiice. The unitary accessory embodying the invention includes a special mounting member for the several components readily attachable to the lugs of standard electrical junction boxes forming part of the wiring system of buildings. The electrical lighter per se is so positioned as to occupy the space customarily occupied by one of the standard outlets of a twin outlet box, a compact outlet fitting being mounted in the other opening of the mounting strip. Behind the referred to outlet fitting and beside the socket of the electrical lighter there is provided a compact stepdown transformer for lowering the supply voltage employed to energize the heater coil to a safe value as well as to a value permitting the use of the standard economical heater coil. The described components are assembled at the factory to the common mounting plate and in such manner that the entire assembly can be readily assembled into a junction box as a unit and secured in place by the usual mounting screws. A conventional cover or finish plate is then secured in place to conceal the junction box and its contents.

It will therefore be recognized that this invention provides a very compact, inexpensive accessory featuring an electric lighter in combination with a female outlet for an extension cord, the entire unit being readily connected in circuit with the terminals of any standard junction box. Accordingly, the unit can be installed by the novice without need for special instructions to the end that the convenience of the lighter and the standard outlet may be enjoyed in each room of the home or office building. Only the operatingknob for the ligther is exposed to view. It is therefore unnecessary to have matches or lighting devices requiring frequent servicing and charging with fuel, the expense, nuisance and well known disadvantages of each of these commonly employed cigarette lighting devices being entirely avoided and eliminated .by the present invention. Additionally, the dangers attending an open flame are entirely eliminated and there is no need for taking the precautions essential when using matches and open flames to light a cigarette.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved safety lighting device for use in lighting cigarettes and other tobaccos and adapted to be energized from the common 110 volt power supplies used in wiring buildings.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a compact, inexpensive, highly reliable electric lighter accessory constructed and arranged to be mounted within and concealed by the junction box of the usual building lighting circuit.

' Another object of the invention is the provision of a unitary accessory specially designed for mounting in electrical junction boxes and including provision for a standard extension cord outlet in addition to an electric lighter United States Patent 0 device and the installation of which is so simple as to be easily carried out by inexperienced persons.

These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawing to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawing in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view from the interior of the room showing the preferred embodiment of the invention installed in the junction box;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale taken generally along line 22 on FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a transverse view on an enlarged scale taken generally along line 3-3 on FIGURE 1.

Referring more particularly to FIGURES 2 and 3, there is shown a conventional junction box 10 rigidly supported in a wall opening 11 in conventional manner, as by the bracket 12 and nail 13. In accordance with standard practice, the open face 14 of the junction box is normally mounted flush with the interior surface of the room wall 15. Electrical power is supplied to the interior of this junction box by electrical conductors 18, 19 housed within armored tubing 20 anchored to an opening 21 of the junction box, as by collar 22 and lock nut 23.

The combined electrical outlet and electric lighter accessory forming the feature of this invention is designated generally 25 and includes, as its principal components, an electric lighter 26, a step-down transformer 27 and an electrical outlet 28 for an extension cord. These com ponents are rigidly secured to a common mounting strip 39 provided with openings at its opposite ends to receive screws 31 mating with the threaded openings in the usual inturned tabs 32 integral with the opposite ends of the junction box.

Electric lighter 26 may be of any suitable construction, and includes as its two principal components the socket-like cylindrical housing 34 and the removable plug 35 having a loose fit with the interior of housing 34. Rigidly secured to the inner end of housing 34 is a disc 37 of insulation material supporting axially thereof a threaded terminal post 38. Nuts 39 on the outer end of post 38 serve to connect this post to one end of the second ary coil of step-down transformer 27.

Spot we ded or otherwise intimately secured to the inner end of terminal post 38 is a bimetallic thermostatic disc 42 having fingers 43 positioned to embrace and releasably seat the rounded peripheral edge of a shallow metallic 544 housing the usual electrical he ter eement and suitably insulated therefrom. The heater element is not shown in the drawing but comprises a coil of resistance wire having the side thereof facing thermostat'c disc 42 expos'd. One end of the heater is connected with housing 44 whereas the other end leads through insulation material of pug 35 and into electrical contact with a metal sleeve 46 seating against the outer end of socket housing 34.

Attached to housing 34 is a terminal strip 48 to which the other lead wire 49 of the transformer seondary is connected. The main body of plug 35 as well as the knob 50 desirably is of insulation material. Normally. the plug is resiliently and fricti-nally seated in housing 34 with heater enclosure 44 closely spaced from the thermostat fingers 43, this spacing being assured by a light coil spring 52 having one end bearing against the plug 35 and the other end bearing against the inturned inner rim of a metal sleeve 46.

To energize the heater, the operator merely presses inwardly on the outer end of knob 5i) until fingers 43 of thermostatic member 42 are engaged over the rounded rim of heater housing 44. In so doing, spring 52 is compressed and the outturned lip of sleeve 46 is forced into firm electrical contact with the outer end of housing 34. A circuit through the electrical heater is thereby compfeted causing the heater to become heated to a red heat. This causes the thermostatic disc to bulge and move fingers 43 outwardly out of holding engagement with the rim of housing 44 allowing spring 52 to snap the plug outwardly a short distance. The lighter is now in condition to light a cigarette, cigar or other tobacco, in the customary manner, as the plug is removed and the hot heater is placed in contact with the tobacco to be lighted. It is pointed out that the electrical lighter 26 is mounted in the space customarily employed to support one of a pair of twin electrical outlets 28. One only of these outlets 28 is shown mounted in one of the two main openings through mounting strip 30. Outlet 28 is of compact design and is provided with a pair of terminal screws 54 for connecting it in circuit with power supply wires 18 and 19 in conventional manner.

.The portion of mounting strip 30 to the opposite sides of outlet 28 includes rearwardly extending mounting brackets 55, 55 having inturned lips or tabs 56, 57 embracing core 58 of a step-down transformer 27, and serve to hold the latter rigidly assembled to strip 30. In accordance with customary practice, terminals 59 of the transformer primary are connected in circuit with power supply conductors l8 and 19 and remain energized at all times. However, since the circuit through the secondary is normally open, the only power consumed by the transformer are the inconsequential no-load losses.

The described combination lighter and power outlet accessory is readily mounted in junction box 10 by the home owner by removing the existing cover plate for the junction box and theexisting contents of the junction box, whatever these may be. I he installer then connects conductors 18 and 19 to a designated pair of the accessory term nals. All other connections are completed and checked as part of the manufacturing procedure. Once the two connections have been made, the device is pressed into the junction box and mounting screws 31 are assembled into tabs 32, the unitary accessory being proportioned to fit readily and easily into standard junction boxes. Thereafter, the exterior cover plate 60 is applied over the open face of the junction box and secured in place by the single assembly screw 62 mating with a threaded opening provided centrally of mounting strip 30.

It will be recognized from the foregoing description that the described accessory may be installed in the junction boxes of each room of the house without interfering with the normal use of the box to support the usual outlet'for service cords of other appliances. Alternatively, the space occupied by outlet 28 may be used to mount a control switch for room lights or other purposes.- In this case, the internal connections of the accessory will be modified appropriately to maintain the primary of the step-down transformer energized and in readiness to serve the needs of electric lighter 26. It will be understood that the step-down transformer may reduce the voltage employed to energize the heater to any desired value. However, a voltage of 10' or less is preferable to minimize the injury hazards if children or inexperienced persons should place a finger in housing 34 when the lighter plug is removed. a

While the particular apparatus herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated. it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A unitary cigarette lighting accessory designed for mounting in the wall of a room and utilizing electrical vpower from electrical wiring already installed in the room Walls to energize said accessory, said accessory being readily installable by the purchaser in the standard electrical junction box of the electrical wiring for the room upon removal of the customary junction box cover plate, said accessory comprising a mounting frame having opening means registerable with threaded openings of the said standard electrical junction box, socket means supported on and projecting rearwardly from said mounting frame, said socket having an open outer end lying generally in the plane of the face of a junction box supporting said mounting frame, a pair of electrical contacts insulated from one another and secured to the inner end of said socket means, and means detachably insertable into said socket having a handle at one end and a resistance heater at its inner end adapted to be connected across said electrical terminals when said last-mentioned means is fully inserted into said socket, said resistance heater being effective to ignite tobacco when heated and pressed in contact with tobacco after being withdrawn from said socket means, an appearance cover plate for the junction box and the mounting frame of said accessory, said cover plate including an opening through which said handle extends and fastener means for securing said cover plate in place to conceal said mounting frame and junction box with its peripheral edges substantially flush with the adjacent surfaces of the room wall.

2. A unitary cigarette lighting accessory designed for mounting in the wall of a room and utilizing electrical power from electrical wiring already installed in the room walls to energize said accessory, said accessory being readily installable by the purchaser in the standard electrical junction box of the electrical wiring for the room upon removal of the customary junction box cover plate, said accessory comprising a rigid mounting stnp provided with means at its opposite ends to secure the same to the threaded lugs provided on the walls of an electrical junction box close to the open face thereof, socket means secured to a midportion of said mounting strip with its open end substantially flush with the outer side of said strip, a handle having a resistance heater element supported on its end and having a loose fit with the side Walls of said socket, thermally responsive clutch means for holding said handle seated against the inner end-of said socket and including means for connecting said heater in an electrical circuit until said heater and thermal means becomes hot, said handle and hot heater then being freely removable from said socket means for use in lighting tobacco held in contact with the hot heater, said accessory including an appearance cover having an opening therethrough positioned to be aligned with the outer end of said socket means and through which said resistance heater element can be inserted and removed, said cover being installable against the exterior face of said mounting strip to conceal the same and the open face of the junction box, and fastener means for holding said cover detachably secured to said accessory with its peripheral edges held pressed against the room wall surf-aces adjacent the edges of the junction box when said accessory is assembled thereto.

3. An electric lighter device as defined in claim 2 characterized in the provision of a step-down transformer rigidly attached to said mounting strip and arranged to be inserted into and housed by an electric junction box along with said socket means, said transformer having a primary winding connectable to a source of power and a secondary winding connected to terminal means on said socket.

4. In combination, a unitary electric lighter accessory adapted to be housed within a conventional electrical junction box of the type mounted in the walls of rooms and including as part thereof a female electrical fitting for auxiliary electrical devices, said accessory comprising a mounting strip adapted to have its ends secured totabs on the end walls of the junction box, said strip having a pair of openings, an electric lighter mounted in one of said openings, a female electrical outlet mounted in the other of said openings, a step-down transformer secured to said mounting strip behind said female outlet, said lighter device having a plug provided with a knob on its outer end and carrying a heater on its inner end adapted to be connected in circuit with the secondary of said transformer when said plug is pressed inwardly to a heater energizing position, a cover plate for said lighter accessory having a pair of openings registering with the two openings of said mounting strip, and means for detachably securing said cover plate in place over the outwardly facing side of said mounting strip after said accessory has been assembled into a junction box.

5. In combination, electric junction box mounted in a wall opening with the face of said box closely spaced to the interior surface of the wall, said box being of the type having lugs attached to its walls and formed with screw receiving openings, a unitary electric lighter and extension cord outlet accessory insertable through the open face of said box, said accessory having a rigid mounting strip securable to said lugs by screws, said strip having a pair of large area openings closely spaced to one another, a female outlet and an electric lighter se- 6 cured in respective Ones of said openings, a step-down transformer carried by said mounting strip laterally to one side of said electric lighter having its terminals connected in circuit with the secondary of said transformer but norm-ally out of energizing contact with an electric heater mounted on the inner end of the removable plug forming part of said lighter, a knob on the outer end of said plug for depressing said plug into contact with said electric terminals to energize said heater, and an exterior cover plate for said junction box having openings in registry with said lighter and with said outlet, and means for detachably securing said cover plate in place over the open face of said box.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,063,200 Smith Dec. 8, 1936 2,773,164 Busbin Dec. 4, 1956 2,794,890 Taylor June 4, 1957 2,828,394 Mayzik Mar. 25, 1958 2,948,800 Fenn Aug. 9, 1960 

1. A UNITARY CIGARETTE LIGHTING ACCESSORY DESIGNED FOR MOUNTING IN THE WALL OF A ROOM AND UTILIZING ELECTRICAL POWER FROM ELECTRICAL WIRING ALREADY INSTALLED IN THE ROOM WALLS TO ENERGIZE SAID ACCESSORY, SAID ACCESSORY BEING READILY INSTALLABLE BY THE PURCHASER IN THE STANDARD ELECTRICAL JUNCTION BOX OF THE ELECTRICAL WIRING FOR THE ROOM UPON REMOVAL OF THE CUSTOMARY JUNCTION BOX COVER PLATE, SAID ACCESSORY COMPRISING A MOUNTING FRAME HAVING OPENING MEANS REGISTERABLE WITH THREADED OPENINGS OF THE SAID STANDARD ELECTRICAL JUNCTION BOX, SOCKET MEANS SUPPORTED ON AND PROJECTING REARWARDLY FROM SAID MOUNTING FRAME, SAID SOCKET HAVING AN OPEN OUTER END LYING GENERALLY IN THE PLANE OF THE FACE OF A JUNCTION BOX SUPPORTING SAID MOUNTING FRAME, A PAIR OF ELECTRICAL CONTACTS INSULATED FROM ONE ANOTHER AND SECURED TO THE INNER END OF SAID SOCKET MEANS, AND MEANS DETACHABLY INSERTABLE INTO SAID SOCKET HAVING A HANDLE AT ONE END AND A RESISTANCE HEATER AT ITS INNER END ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED ACROSS SAID ELECTRICAL TERMINALS WHEN SAID LAST-MENTIONED MEANS IS FULLY INSERTED INTO SAID SOCKET, SAID RESISTANCE HEATER BEING EFFECTIVE TO IGNITE TOBACCO WHEN HEATED AND PRESSED IN CONTACT WITH TOBACCO AFTER BEING WITHDRAWN FROM SAID SOCKET MEANS, AN APPEARANCE COVER PLATE FOR THE JUNCTION BOX AND THE MOUNTING FRAME OF SAID ACCESSORY, SAID COVER PLATE INCLUDING AN OPENING THROUGH WHICH SAID HANDLE EXTENDS AND FASTENER MEANS FOR SECURING SAID COVER PLATE IN PLACE TO CONCEAL SAID MOUNTING FRAME AND JUNCTION BOX WITH ITS PERIPHERAL EDGES SUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH WITH THE ADJACENT SURFACES OF THE ROOM WALL. 